British International Freight Association (BIFA) Conveys Concerns over Rollout of new UK customs system
The improvement in a new computer program to be set to replace the current program for processing customs declarations in the UK, is a major cause of concerns for the British International Freight Association (BIFA).
Director General of BIFA, Robert Keen, expressed his grievance stating that the advancement has been uncertain and that industry partners have not been taking part in the development process to the fullest.
“Our single greatest concern is that currently the development process does not involve representatives of the end-user,” Keen said in a press release. “This is a dangerous oversight because it is the end-user who will determine what will actually work in practice, particularly as IT developers have been flagging up a lack of clarity regarding data elements.”
Further Keen added that “despite initial assurances from HMRC to the contrary, it is clear that the new system will require more significant changes to commercial software systems than previously envisaged.”
Every merchant is required to take a shift from the current system, Customs Handling of Import and Export Freight (CHIEF), upcoming (CDS) Customs Declaration System by September 2020. And CHIEF will be discontinued in March 2021.
Yet, given the tight deadline, HMRC has been challenge by BIFA to analyze every difficult area, so that the upcoming system can be inaugrated in tested and stable form, utilizing end user comments to make sure that it is efficient in practice.
Possible problems comprise the large amount of, to be collected data, and the combined intricacy of new requirements.
Keen also stated: “In this scenario it has to be accepted by all that the implementation of CDS will have to be delayed whilst we are using existing systems to facilitate cargo movements and communicating with the various government agencies to allow them to perform their role to collect revenues without compromising the integrity of the border, the flow of international trade, or frontier security.”
Source: BIFA